Old Forester 1910

Distillery: Brown-Forman Shively

Age: No Age Statement

Proof: 93

Verdict: Refreshingly unique and tasty.

Score: 7.81

Old Forester 1910 “Old Fine Whisky” is meant to mimic a batch of developed bourbon that was re-barreled in charred barrels out of necessity after a fire, per the story on the bottle.  Double barreled bourbons, or finished bourbons, are not a new thing – and this one will inevitably draw some understandable comparisons to Woodford Double-Oaked, but both should earn there places on your shelf.

OF 1910 has oak all the way through, as you’d expect, but there’s no bitterness and it never overpowers.  Otherwise on the nose there’s some brown sugar and toasted marshmallows.  The palate gets the rich, warm, oak taste, of course, but it’s lighter than the color might suggest.  There’s also caramel and vanilla in there.  The finish is woody and on the shorter side.  It’s a nicely balanced, unique, and flavorful sip. As a bonus, this is one of my wife’s favorites.

While there are some similarities to Woodford Double-Oaked, it doesn’t beat you over the head with any one note.  It’s slightly subtler and, in my opinion, is better for it.  While it’s not rare, it is on the pricier side at $60.  Here’s the cheapest shipped option I could locate:

This one ranks pretty well on THE LIST.

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